I will be moving to Phnom Penh sometime over the next year. This is to work teaching ESL.
My research has revealed to me that the average entry level ESL Job which only requires a TEFL certification, pays around $1200-$1500 a month.
My research has shown me that the following are the main financial necessities while thriving in Cambodia.
The pricing is based on one month.
Apartment = $200-$350 (outside of city center)
Utilities = $100
Food = $150
Transportation = $100 plus gas (Moped)
Total = around $650 per month
My goal is not to get rich teaching English. But I desire to save a solid percentage of my income. Based on the prices above it looks like I can save around $500 per month.
What is everyones thoughts on this? Is there anything I'm missing, or anything I should know?
Questions regarding a future ESL job in Phnom Penh
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fastlearnesl wrote:I will be moving to Phnom Penh sometime over the next year. This is to work teaching ESL.
My research has revealed to me that the average entry level ESL Job which only requires a TEFL certification, pays around $1200-$1500 a month.
My research has shown me that the following are the main financial necessities while thriving in Cambodia.
The pricing is based on one month.
Apartment = $200-$350 (outside of city center)
Utilities = $100
Food = $150
Transportation = $100 plus gas (Moped)
Total = around $650 per month
My goal is not to get rich teaching English. But I desire to save a solid percentage of my income. Based on the prices above it looks like I can save around $500 per month.
What is everyones thoughts on this? Is there anything I'm missing, or anything I should know?
It is actually for the most part a sensible budget, your bills shouldn't be that high unless you are murdering the AC should be more around $50. If you are cooking at home or eating local restaurants the food budget is doable but not much left for western treats if you miss them (you will)
However, you are missing the any entertainment at all, it would be a depressing life to live without any of that.
Even if you don't do the usual teacher route of full blown alcoholism, hookers and meth addiction you would at least want to have some trips away from the city to other places of this beautiful country. A few coffees on a weekend see some entertainment, visit a swimming pool in the hot season, going to a gym?
Also you forgot your insurance thats $1000 up front for the year, plus your annual visa renewal, maybe even having to pay for your work permit.
Perhaps you should invest in a semi decent bicycle, you will save money on motos a one time purchase of a decent road bike would be about $150 and can then also have a few bike rides out of the city to save you from insanity.
oh and don't fall in love with any Srey Sa'art, all your saving plans will go out of the window
You need more leeway for oh shit and fuck it money. $150 food is like eating in prison in your home country. You're going to lose your mind and you can't budget for insanity.
Good luck!
Good luck!
While your numbers are more or less possible in theory, life won't be much fun that way.
150 USD for food is possible if you buy everything in a local market and won't splash on a Western meal. But don't expect anything fancy. A nice Western dish with a drink will cost you about 2 days budget.... And you will fancy it once in a while.
As someone else mentioned, there's also some expensive stuff you didn't include. Work permit, visa, medical, occasional night out with friends, weekend trip, other leisurely activities like a coffee (a nice cup of coffee is nearly half a days budget these days).... I don't think most English teachers in Cambodia have been able to save an average 500 USD per month when going back to their country. Eight years ago I had the idea life in Cambodia was pretty cheap, but I've changed my mind over time. Cambodia is not that cheap (anymore), especially if you take the standard of living into account. Thailand is cheaper with a higher living standard, apart from the booze.
If you want to save some money, go there. Higher wages, lower cost of living.
150 USD for food is possible if you buy everything in a local market and won't splash on a Western meal. But don't expect anything fancy. A nice Western dish with a drink will cost you about 2 days budget.... And you will fancy it once in a while.
As someone else mentioned, there's also some expensive stuff you didn't include. Work permit, visa, medical, occasional night out with friends, weekend trip, other leisurely activities like a coffee (a nice cup of coffee is nearly half a days budget these days).... I don't think most English teachers in Cambodia have been able to save an average 500 USD per month when going back to their country. Eight years ago I had the idea life in Cambodia was pretty cheap, but I've changed my mind over time. Cambodia is not that cheap (anymore), especially if you take the standard of living into account. Thailand is cheaper with a higher living standard, apart from the booze.
If you want to save some money, go there. Higher wages, lower cost of living.
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As usual Kachang has given you good advice.
I also think you're overestimating your salary. $1500 a month is a Tier 3 International School and they generally require a degree and experience. You would be better to budget around a $1000 a month and don't forget you have unpaid National Holidays.
Also, schools that hire with no degree or experience will probably not pay for a work permit so you'll have to factor in the cost of border runs.
The ESL market in SEA has drastically changed. Now you're also competing against young, non-native speakers.
I also agree with everyone else who said that your food budget is too low. PP is just not that cheap anymore.
Personally, without a degree I would head to Vietnam or Myanmar as they have higher hourly rates.
I don't know what your present circumstances are but your future as an ESL teacher in PP sounds grim.
I also think you're overestimating your salary. $1500 a month is a Tier 3 International School and they generally require a degree and experience. You would be better to budget around a $1000 a month and don't forget you have unpaid National Holidays.
Also, schools that hire with no degree or experience will probably not pay for a work permit so you'll have to factor in the cost of border runs.
The ESL market in SEA has drastically changed. Now you're also competing against young, non-native speakers.
I also agree with everyone else who said that your food budget is too low. PP is just not that cheap anymore.
Personally, without a degree I would head to Vietnam or Myanmar as they have higher hourly rates.
I don't know what your present circumstances are but your future as an ESL teacher in PP sounds grim.
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When I first got to Cambodia, I was living on $800/month roughly. I walked most places, ate modestly and didn't have a lot of fun. My rent was $140 + electricity (about $80). I was teaching at an international school (about 20 hours a week for $10/ hour). I eventually got some Saturday work at a university to supplement my income picking up another 5 hours weekly at $11/ hour. I did this for six months until the politics and working conditions were too despicable for my taste, so I moved on to a real teaching position making double the wages at a school focused on English.
There is really only a few places where you could me making the kind of salary you are expecting to make. It is more likely you'll be scraping by on some low salary working ridiculous hours unless you are very qualified and find a job paying a higher end salary. My neighbor works 7am-4p.m M-F with a break from 11 am-1 (technically working 35 hours a week making $700 salary a month). He also works evening classes for $10 hour for 1.5 hours each evening. The evening classes are in addition to the salary, but are obligatory. So when his day job have breaks and holidays, the evening classes still continue. He is not able to travel or even enjoy long stretches of vacation because of this.
Also, the traffic in Phnom Penh is maddening. I live in Siem Reap, but I am here for a few days and I'm not sure how easy it would be to move from A to B. It would definitely make me think about things like insurance, medical care, accidents, etc. Good luck and I hope you have a positive teaching experience.
There is really only a few places where you could me making the kind of salary you are expecting to make. It is more likely you'll be scraping by on some low salary working ridiculous hours unless you are very qualified and find a job paying a higher end salary. My neighbor works 7am-4p.m M-F with a break from 11 am-1 (technically working 35 hours a week making $700 salary a month). He also works evening classes for $10 hour for 1.5 hours each evening. The evening classes are in addition to the salary, but are obligatory. So when his day job have breaks and holidays, the evening classes still continue. He is not able to travel or even enjoy long stretches of vacation because of this.
Also, the traffic in Phnom Penh is maddening. I live in Siem Reap, but I am here for a few days and I'm not sure how easy it would be to move from A to B. It would definitely make me think about things like insurance, medical care, accidents, etc. Good luck and I hope you have a positive teaching experience.
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